Leap Motion controller

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The Leap Motion controller is a small USB peripheral device for human–computer interaction. The Leap Motion controller tracks fingers with two cameras and three infrared LEDs, the device observes a roughly hemispherical area, to a distance of about 1 meter.

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The miniscule gadget barely measures larger than a USB flash drive, however inside the Leap you'll find two cameras and three infrared LEDs that are capable of tracking hand movements in all three spatial dimensions. Making use of motion-sensing technology to interact with your computer is at least refreshing, if not magical.

In creating the Leap Motion the designers began with the idea of making modelling virtual 3D clay as easy as modelling clay in the real world. We think that’s where Leap Motion’s future lies – in innovative 3D applications not yet dreamt of. Till then it hovers somewhere between gimmicky toy and impressive proof of concept – but at a price that screams 'buy me anyway'.

Remember, though, that this is a 1.0 device in a field that's evolving rapidly. Also remember how we should judge: The Leap doesn't have to usher a world of fierce and fluid gesturing à la Cruise's future PC on the first try. It only has to keep us interested enough to leave it hooked up. For the bonus round in Dropchord alone, I'll be taking another Leap. That bit really cooks.

The majority of the apps, though, were frustrating to use, and due to Boom Ball‘s success, it’s difficult to tell whether or not the problem is with the Leap, or with the apps’ understanding of the Leap. Either way, though the Leap is only $80, it would seem like that money is better off buying you a week or two of groceries until the Leap...

When Leap Motion hardware starts getting built into as-yet-unannounced HP and ASUS devices, we'll be a step closer to a future where this kind of interaction is just a thing computers can do, apnd it's that kind of exposure that could give this hardware the exposure and user base it needs to shine.

Much like how touch controls were in their infancy during the 90s and early 2000s before bursting out into mainstream use, it falls on app-makers to suss out the ideal workaround for Leap Motion's quirks, but in the here and now, we can't help but feel that the unit is a long way off being any kind of definitive motion control gaming device.

For now, the controller is great for games and intriguing for other applications. And at $80, it isn’t a budget-busting luxury. Though not yet all that useful for most folks, it’s already a neat toy - and that’s, well, neat.

And, there are enough apps in the Airspace Store that most folks will find at least a few to their liking. Eighty bucks for a glimpse of what could be the future of computer controls? Not a bad deal, but if you do dive in, we'd advise you think of it as an entertainment expense, not a business one.

With a mouse or even a touchscreen you cannot learn about a frog's heart as if it were in your hand or mold a piece of virtual clay or soar through space with a wave or your hand. That's why, even despite its current imperfections and bugs, the $80 Leap Motion still seems like a computing leap worth taking.

As I mentioned previously, I didn’t have much time to use the Leap Motion controller - about a day and a half, at most - and it’s certainly possible that with more time I’d feel more adept at using it. I’m also confident that it will improve in time. For now, though, I’m not leaping for joy.

The Leap Motion controller is a promising foray into desktop 3-D gesture control. The technology feels like the rough first draft of something that will grow more polished over time. It's still young, and will hopefully improve as developers pinpoint the best ways to use it.

That seems on the reasonable side to us, assuming developer interest continues and we see not only more titles in the Airspace store, but more standalone apps and games integrate with the high-precision tracking. Eventually, we can envisage a time when Leap Motion’s technology is simply built into your laptop or keyboard...